Storms | Sydney Storms Deluge 22 April 2015

Storms and Deluge hits Sydney

Roadflood | Storms

Whilst travelling to Auburn for my work day, I noted sheet lightning from storms flickering across the sky but due to light rain, storms and cloud I was not sure where it was coming from. It was only when I reached Auburn did I realize that I had driven underneath a thunderstormcell.

Storms Dump Heavy Rainfall

Initially the rain was light but around 6 am, very heavy rain passed through the suburb. Some thunder with the storms was audible including a few rather bright lightning flashes.

Between the period of 6 am and 6.40 am, a period of torrential rain passed over Auburn causing localised flooding. This was accompanied with some very strong south east winds which made conditions treacherous.

The rain was so heavy that the local drainage system was unable to handle the deluge and soon Susan Street became a shallow river of water lapping over the kerb and onto the footpath.

In such difficult conditions, I managed to take the photos shown in addition to getting soaked. These are the best photos from this particular event without losing my camera.

Rain eased after 6.40 am although more heavy showers occurred which lead to flooding further afield. The rain started easing after 1 pm.

In addition to the rain that had already fallen, the storms caused further water damage to the Auburn City Council building in which the roof leaked at many locations including within the fire escape stair. Several portions of the ceiling suffered water damage at the height of the storms.

At daybreak, I was fortunate enough to head down to nearby Duck River and took photos of the river in flood.

This is one individual event being part of a much larger event that has had broad impact across the Sydney region. In addition to flooding and power loss and trees down, a landslide had occurred at the railway bridge underpass at Granville on Woodville Road with emergency crews working out how to repair the damage. This is affecting traffic on that road. However, there are many more SES call outs. I am aware of some 200,000 residents having lost power and many rescues undertaken.

While conditions are now easing, it has been a day of contrasts and now the clean up commences. Please feel free to add any photos of the storms to this post.

Following the early morning thunderstorm, I drove down to Duck River capturing the river as shown. I have never seen the river this high. The river had burst its lower banks but had not breached the higher bank where I was standing.

However, it is understood that at this time, the water was lapping or close to lapping at the Wellington Road bridge further south.

There was much surface flooding seen across the playing fields in a similar form to what occurred Tuesday morning (Photos shown in another post).

Finally to conclude this post, I drove around a portion of Auburn coming across further flooding in this car park as shown (First photo).

Second photo and final photo was taken by a work colleague – Sam Mitry. I just wish to thank Sam Mitry for allowing me to post this photo that he took. Taken at Granville showing floodwaters lapping at his street from a burst creek following the morning deluge.

Harley, that si some river flooding! Apparently, regions near Schofields also flooded and made the news. One friend of mine was ordered to evacuate. Furthermore, we heard of a car that was stuck in an area that usually floods and you can normally cross. However, a car was towed out with water to its roof! Incredible amount of rainfall right across the region!

Harley, that si some river flooding! Apparently, regions near Schofields also flooded and made the news. One friend of mine was ordered to evacuate. Furthermore, we heard of a car that was stuck in an area that usually floods and you can normally cross. However, a car was towed out with water to its roof! Incredible amount of rainfall right across the region!

Harley, that si some river flooding! Apparently, regions near Schofields also flooded and made the news. One friend of mine was ordered to evacuate. Furthermore, we heard of a car that was stuck in an area that usually floods and you can normally cross. However, a car was towed out with water to its roof! Incredible amount of rainfall right across the region!

Harley, that si some river flooding! Apparently, regions near Schofields also flooded and made the news. One friend of mine was ordered to evacuate. Furthermore, we heard of a car that was stuck in an area that usually floods and you can normally cross. However, a car was towed out with water to its roof! Incredible amount of rainfall right across the region!

Harley, that si some river flooding! Apparently, regions near Schofields also flooded and made the news. One friend of mine was ordered to evacuate. Furthermore, we heard of a car that was stuck in an area that usually floods and you can normally cross. However, a car was towed out with water to its roof! Incredible amount of rainfall right across the region!